Pool 2 Report (2020)

She’s gonna come up a foot or so with the rain. That should get them going hopefully.

Anyone going to brave it out there this weekend? I’m 50/50 depending on what the wind does. Looks like she’s gonna be howling again unfortunately.

May give it a go tomorrow. Any one know how the ramps look?

This weekend don’t look too bad. Anybody been out lately? I have been fishing the upper stretches lately and haven’t been down to P2 since the end of Nov.

Quick report as I was out last night – had been a couple weeks since I had been out. I was out from 3pm-7pm.

Bite was OK for me on numbers but no big ones – fish from 16-23″ on a variety of plastics and live bait. Water temp was 36 and it’s still clear and low but the flow is picking up in certain spots with most of the barges gone.

Deeper water with flow held some fish as did a couple of dams. Bites were aggressive when I found fish but the wind was challenging. Couple saugers had big shad in their mouths again. I think they are eating aggressively but you need to hunt around a bit to find the fish and the shad.

Got out again yesterday for a few hours….this was the first real slow day I’ve had. Scratched a few together with a decent 20” sauger mixed in.

Shad are dieing off fast…it was amazing to see the birds down there. Must’ve been 20 bald eagles in one tree picking off shad.

I dipped my net in as a school of them were floating downstream. My brilliant idea to use them as bait didn’t produce.

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Thank you for the reports Matt. When you say deeper water, what is the depth that comes to mind?

Also, when will the walleyes be in their wintering holes? Are they there now?

Deep for me is anything over about 12’ given how low the water is. The shallower bite, especially in the evening hasn’t really produced the last couple times out.

I’ve had best luck on the channel edges or some deeper wing dams. 12 to 20’.

My guess is they are close to holding in winter spots. Water has been sub 40 degrees for a couple weeks now. The water is also as clear as I have ever seen it. Visibility was probably 3’ yesterday.

Launched at Hidden Falls today. Caught a 19” walleye and 2 small ones. Had a big fish on but got off before I could see it. Had the pleasure of meeting Matt Moen while fishing so it was a good trip!

Jim wrote:

Launched at Hidden Falls today. Caught a 19” walleye and 2 small ones. Had a big fish on but got off before I could see it. Had the pleasure of meeting Matt Moen while fishing so it was a good trip!

Great to meet you Jim. Was slow for me….I had a 12×12 day.

12 fish all at 12”!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Fished up by the dam and caught some small
Walleyes today. Bummed I have a motor problem.

New in August 2019 Marc 60 hp. Has run great and used regularly.

Ran to the dam from HF and while going slow motor beeped 4(?) times and died. Turned the key, nothing. Not even the alarm. After about an hour it started and the trim and tilt worked.

On the way back to the ramp it died again at half throttle. Would get the starting alarm but nothing else when turning the key. Trim and tilt worked.

Motor started after I got it on the trailer and at home.

Any ideas on what is wrong?

Jim wrote:

Fished up by the dam and caught some small
<strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>Walleyes today. Bummed I have a motor problem.

New in August 2019 Marc 60 hp. Has run great and used regularly.

Ran to the dam from HF and while going slow motor beeped 4(?) times and died. Turned the key, nothing. Not even the alarm. After about an hour it started and the trim and tilt worked.

On the way back to the ramp it died again at half throttle. Would get the starting alarm but nothing else when turning the key. Trim and tilt worked.

Motor started after I got it on the trailer and at home.

Any ideas on what is wrong?

Jim wrote:

Fished up by the dam and caught some small
<strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>Walleyes today. Bummed I have a motor problem.

New in August 2019 Marc 60 hp. Has run great and used regularly.

Ran to the dam from HF and while going slow motor beeped 4(?) times and died. Turned the key, nothing. Not even the alarm. After about an hour it started and the trim and tilt worked.

On the way back to the ramp it died again at half throttle. Would get the starting alarm but nothing else when turning the key. Trim and tilt worked.

Motor started after I got it on the trailer and at home.

Any ideas on what is wrong?

Jim, I would say it is a Poppet valve issue. Secondly, maybe the impeller or themostats. I don’t think you’re getting enough water pressure at slower speeds. Just a guess, but the river does a number on the Poppet valve.

What’s the longest anyone has been stuck at the 494 access by a train? I think last night was close to an hour before we figured out the bike path can get you to hardman ave.

How’s the shore fishing up by the Lock this time of year?

Holy boats out today Batman.

roottwo wrote:

What’s the longest anyone has been stuck at the 494 access by a train? I think last night was close to an hour before we figured out the bike path can get you to hardman ave.

Billy and I waited about 20 minutes before we just drove down the bike/walking path to the street. They had already taken the porta potty out and I needed to GO!!

Three 27s and a 28″ for our big fish yesterday. They liked the big plastics. Pizza delivery to the landing was nice to.

Sorry about all the duplicate photos. No idea how that happened.

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Hecks yes.

That’s the motivation I needed!

Great fish

Thanks Abe. Played with the thermostat Friday night and tried to fish Saturday. Started, got it off the trailer and beached it. Then it was dead. No starting alarm and no trim and tilt. Guessing something electrical. Will call dealer
Monday. Was a bummer, had 2 friends fishing with me and it was a beautiful day.

Jim wrote:

Thanks Abe. Played with the thermostat Friday night and tried to fish Saturday. Started, got it off the trailer and beached it. Then it was dead. No starting alarm and no trim and tilt. Guessing something electrical. Will call dealer
Monday. Was a bummer, had 2 friends fishing with me and it was a beautiful day.

I had similar issue this spring when the alternator went on my Merc ran great until the battery ran down. Then did what you are talking about. check the charge on the battery and the connection.

New Pool 2 angler here. Got a new 9.9 four stroke for my 14′ Lund this year and I can now fish the Big River. I got out a handful of times this spring, mainly upper P2, and I started fishing lower P2 a couple weeks ago.

Last Saturday I caught a handful around noon and they were all between 17 and 21″. Went back out Sunday morning and snagged a nice 21″ sauger before the wind picked up and I had to pack it up. I have Friday off, and plan to get back out most days this weekend. I’ll report back (yearly pheasant hunt got cancelled, so my weekend is wide open).

Also – if anyone ever needs help getting ramps open this winter, just give me a shout. I would be more than happy to put in the work and meet you pretty much whenever. I’m working on getting myself a chainsaw or ice saw.

How’s it looking up there men, freezing up?, landings? MN river is starting to freeze up on us around here, might have to move over to the big river now.

The mighty Minnesota looked wide open to me this morning on my way to work. Did have ice bergs on it on my way home yesterday though.

Little skim ice floating around yesterday. Nothing to bad yet. Should be good for a while to as water temps are still above freezing.

Pig-hunter wrote:

How’s it looking up there men, freezing up?, landings? MN river is starting to freeze up on us around here, might have to move over to the big river now.

Was out Wednesday evening out of 494. No problems at the ramp. But I was surprised to see some slack water areas with ice cover. Some good sized chunks floating down the channel that got knocked loose by boat wakes or tugs. But it was only about 1/2″ thick.

Water temp was 35 F.

I was out last night….there were a couple pretty big floaters and some large sheets coming down. It’s not a problem and the launches are good but be careful and move a little slower after dark.

33 degree water temp and slow fishing last night.

@boone what boat were you in?

Matt Moen wrote:

@Boone what boat were you in?

My boat

Red Lund Explorer with a white 115 hp Johnson & T8.

Slow for me today during the daylight hours, but a beautiful day out there. Small chunks of ice floating around.

I’ll be heading out again tomorrow afternoon to try the night bite. Good luck out there.

Night shift was slow for us tonight. Just 3 small ones.

Mike w,
One of those day light fish from the 29th looks like it’s missing an eye on the right side. If so I may have caught the same fish on the 3rd, right at 27”.

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